Making an appearance at the annual Comic-Con International 2007 event in San Diego, Calif. on Thursday, Microsoft announced a 10 percent price reduction for its Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, from $199 to $179 starting Aug. 1, 2007. The add-on accessory enables Xbox 360 video game console users to watch HD DVD movies.
While Sony’s PlayStation 3 console sports a Blu-ray Disc player, but it runs considerably more expensive than the Xbox 360, which features only a standard definition DVD player. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 HD DVD Player enables Xbox 360 users to watch video content stored on the HD DVD format, a new high definition optical disc format that is rivaling Blu-ray Disc for market dominance.
The $20 price drop continues to enable the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player to be the most affordable way to enjoy high definition films, according to Microsoft vice president Jeff Bell.
“From the beginning, we set out to offer Xbox 360 owners an unrivaled high-definition experience, with a choice of optical discs on the HD DVD format and digital downloads through Xbox LIVE Marketplace,” said Bell.
Microsoft also announced the forthcoming available of a high definition version of the movie “300” coming to Xbox Live Marketplace on Aug. 14, and the pending availability of the pilot program for Heroes: Season 1 in HD. (Both are being released on HD DVD format as well.)
Microsoft has extended a special “Perfect Offer” promotion previously exclusive to Toshiba-branded HD DVD players. Users who buy the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player between Aug. 1 and Sep. 30 will be able to get five free HD DVD movies by mail-in, from a catalog of 15 films picked for the promotion.